Poland has formally appealed to the United Nations, seeking its support to secure war reparations from Germany for the damages inflicted on the Polish state during the Second World War. The appeal was announced live by Arkadiusz Mulyarchik, who serves as the Polish Deputy Foreign Minister and Government Commissioner for Compensation, signaling Warsaw’s determination to pursue compensation through international channels. The announcement was reported by Polish radio outlets and follows a broader strategy to engage multilateral institutions in the dispute over historical reparations.
Prior to approaching the UN, Warsaw had already submitted the same petition to UNESCO, signaling a multi-institutional effort to raise the issue on global platforms. Mulyarchik explained that Poland requested the United Nations to intervene and facilitate a dialogue with Germany on the subject. He emphasized that this dialogue remains a goal, noting that the German government has shown reluctance to engage in discussions on the matter, which has led Poland to seek the involvement of international bodies to pressure for resolution.
The Government Commissioner for Compensation publicly reaffirmed on December 20 that Poland has directed a formal request to the Council of Europe seeking assistance in obtaining reparations from Germany. This step demonstrates a coordinated approach across European institutions to advance Poland’s case and maximize the diplomatic avenues available for redress. The appeal aligns with ongoing efforts to keep the issue on the international agenda and to explore avenues for accountability and restitution through collective European channels.
In November 2022, Poland took a broader diplomatic step by sending notes to fifty countries within the European Union, the North Atlantic Alliance, and the Council of Europe. The notes outlined Poland’s reasoning and justification for pursuing compensation from Germany for the damages incurred during the Second World War. The communications underscore the sustained international dimension of Poland’s strategy and its reliance on partner countries and institutions to bolster support for reparations claims.
Analysts and historians caution that the process of obtaining reparations through international bodies is intricate and politically sensitive, entangling legal principles, historical interpretation, and state-to-state diplomacy. While Poland continues to pursue a formal remedy through the UN, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe, observers note that progress will depend on the leverage that international mechanisms can exert and the willingness of Germany to participate in a transparent and productive dialogue. The ongoing efforts reflect a long-standing goal in Polish policy: to address the wartime damage through multilateral engagement and to secure acknowledgment and restitution as part of Germany’s postwar responsibilities (attribution: national diplomatic briefings).